Parashat Vayechi 5785

by Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields

This week’s Torah reading, Parashat Vayechi, completes the book of Genesis, Sefer Bereshit. Jacob blesses his sons, as well as his grandsons Ephraim and Menasseh, Joseph’s sons. Jacob’s blessing for his grandsons are the words used when one blesses one’s son on Erev Shabbat, Yisimcha Eloheim K’Ephraim v’Menasseh, May God make you as Ephraim and Menasseh (Genesis 48:20). It has been asked why the blessing we give our sons invokes the names of Ephraim and Menasseh. What was so special about them, when there are many other blessings given in the rest of this Torah reading? One suggestion is that Ephraim and Menasseh were raised in the secular world, in Egypt. However, Jacob was about to see that although they were not raised in an Israelite household, they still held important values. As we bless our sons, raising them in a secular world, we also pray that like Joseph who raised his children in Egypt, our sons will also hold the values of being part of the Jewish people. Am Yisrael Chai! All people of Israel Live!